Word Origin & History

"to cheat, swindle," 1806, from dialectal duddle, diddle "to totter" (1630s). Meaning "waste time" is recorded from 1825. Meaning "to have sex with" is from 1879; that of "to masturbate" (especially of women) is from 1950s. More or less unrelated meanings that have gathered around a suggestive sound. Related: Diddled; diddling.

Example Sentences for diddler

Were he not a diddler, he would be a maker of patent rat-traps or an angler for trout.

"They keep the finest Port here you ever tasted," says the Diddler.

A diddler may thus be regarded as a banker in petto—a "financial operation," as a diddle at Brobdignag.

Some grumble but all submit, and the diddler goes home a wealthier man by some fifty or sixty dollars well earned.

Diddler is derived from the word diddle, to do—every body who has not yet made his debut to the Elephant.

There are but two ways about it—take to the highway, or become a Diddler—a sponge—and, like woodcock, live on "suction."

Many's the Diddler who's passed a whole season thus, dead-heading it on the steamers of the Crescent City.

Diddler's face wears the most gratified smile possible to be produced without teeth.

The diddler approaches the bar of a tavern, and demands a couple of twists of tobacco.

The brandy and water is furnished and imbibed, and the diddler makes his way to the door.